Voters in Alger and Marquette Counties will decide on a 20-year Special Education Millage Proposal, as part of the May 2023 election.
If approved, the millage will cost the average homeowner 42 cents per day, based on a home value of $200,000, according to Marquette-Alger Regional Educational Service Agency (MARESA). MARESA is the only entity legally allowed to bring this millage to the ballot. If passed, the tax dollars collected will flow through the RESA to the local school districts, and none of the funding will remain with the RESA.
The proposal aims to address the underfunding of special education services in Marquette and Alger county school districts, which currently results in a yearly $5 million shortfall. The millage would provide $4.8 million annually to special education services across the two counties.
Proponents of the millages said shortfalls forces schools to dip into general funds, reducing resources and programs for all students. Eliminating general fund expenditures would create more economic freedom for individual school districts.
Executive Director of Special Education for MARESA Tammy Nyen presented at the Munising school board meeting in February. According to Nyen, an internal policy by MARESA regarding total student population would be replaced with one that looked to reimburse districts based on how many students received special education services as a fluctuating percentage. An official vote was not taken but the board members individually expressed support after asking questions regarding how money would be allocated between schools.
Munising Superintendent Mike Travis said that if the budget passed and the policy change to a fluctuating percentage, MPS would be almost 100 percent funded for special education. As it stands, MPS is less that 50 percent funded.
MARESA Chief Financial Officer Tony Bertucci spoke at the Superior Central school board meetings in March. The SC school board expressed approval for the millage in a 4-1 vote with Matt Rondeau dissenting and Denise and Ben Bartlett absent.
There is no known organized opposition to this millage, which is typical of millages organized through RESA and intermediate school districts across Michigan.
Editor’s Note: The MARESA special education proposal will be one of two millages available on the ballot for those that own property within the Munising school district. The other is the Munising Public Schools sinking fund, which was reported on in the March 3, 2023 edition. The MARESA millage will be the only millage on the ballot for those living in Au Train-Onota, Superior Central and Burt Township school districts.
